Improvement in electro-magnetic railroad-switch alarms



. T. A. B.. PUTNAM. ELBCTROMAGNBTIG RAILRUAD SWITCH ALARM.

No 99,233.v Patented Jan. 25, 1870.

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THEODORE A. B. PUTNAM, OFINEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 99,233,1lated January 25. 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RAILROADA-SWITCH ALARMS.

NOP- The Schedule referred to iu these Letters Patent, a.xd making parto! the umu.

any given point, such wire passing underneath and connecting with anyswitch-rail, in such manner as shall be hereafter described, such wireof conduction to proceed to any given distance ti'om such switch-rail,and to form a connection with a. steam or bell-alarm on an approachinglocomotive or moving power, for the purpose ot' giving notice ot` themovement or misplacing ot' such switch-rail,'in shell manner as shall behereafter described.

My invention consists, first, ot' the, spring A, so

mounted upon a suitable platform or box, underneath the switch-rail S,as to have a free per]wmlieular or rising and descending movement, whenrelieved from or subjected to lthe pressure ot' the switch-rail S.

Attached to, and moving with the spring A, is the arm 1, said arm lbeing attached to or terminated by the copper bar .l

`The. wire ot' conduction Y, passing nmlerneath the switch-rail S, issevered at thatpoint, and to the two ends arc attached two copper'prolongations, n n, such prolongations not being in contact one withanother, and so placed as to be above or in a. higher plane than the bar1), during the period such bar-,1) is i'orced down' by the spring A;but-when fthe spring-A is relieved from pressure, it. rises, and'theattached bar 1), rising with it, touches or comcs'in contact with thetavo prolongationsn n, so forming a. continuous conductingwire for thcelectric current.

The conductive wire V being carried along the railway to any givendistance from the switch-rait S, is terminated in the, upwardprolongation F.

Attached to any convenient part of the locomotive or moving body, is themovable copper conductor H, said conductor H being so' hung as to comein contact withand press against the prolongation F, the lateral oryielding movement of the conductor H allowing it to pass over and beyondthe prolongation F, and is kept in contact with such prolongation, whilepassing over, by the springs c c', thus forming a. continuous electricconductor to the locomotive or moving body, said springs c c restoringthe rconductor to its original position, after having passed, or' beenrelieved from the resistance ot' the prolongation F.

The electricity socmrdneted to the' locomotive or moving body, acts uponan electro-magnet and suitable armature, operating a steam orbell-alarm, as may `be most desirable, the electriccircuit-beingcompleted bythe return-aire iiom the magnet connecting with a movableconductor, similar to H, such conductor connecting with a. prolongationsimilar to F, attached to an earth-plate, suoli returlncomluctois actingat the same time, or sinmltaueousiy with H and F, to pert'cet thecircuit.

I wish to be understood as'not confining myself to the shape orform ol'the conductors F and H, as shown in the drawings, but reserve to myselfthe ln'ivilege to chance and conform such conductors as may bcmostdesu'able to the end to be attained, reserving the privilege todispense completely with threturli-eonductors similar' to 11 and H, itit is found thatany part; ot t-he locomotive or moving body will actassuch conductor to the earth.

I also desire to have it understood that I have tbc privilege toinsulate the wire Y, and to bed or dispose ot' such wire as may be mostdesirable, and further, to insulate every and all conductors a-nd partsthat may .need such insulation.

AWitnesses:

A. B. WooDnnAD, M. A. PUTNAM.

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